Saturday, June 30, 2012

The Return of Saturday Adventures: Skelmorlie Aisle

After seven weeks in California helping care for my mother in her final illness, I finally returned to Scotland this week.  Today, after a long break, Diane and I took the train to the seaside town of Largs, on the Firth of Clyde, where we were finally able to see the Skelmorlie Aisle.  Apparently, in Scots, the word "Aisle" refers to the transept or side-arm of a cruciform church.  In this case the nave was torn down more than 200 years ago, leaving this lovely chapel, with unusual painted wooden ceiling, in primitive allegorical style, from 1638, along with an ornate carved stone tomb, both in amazingly good shape.  To get in, you have to sign in and borrow the key from the Largs Museum, which is only open 2-5pm in the summer months.  The ceiling panels depict Largs through the 4 seasons of the year.  Above and between these are allegorical paintings depicting Biblical stories like Adam & Eve and packed packed with obscure symbols.  Another hidden gem!  I'm looking forward to more Saturday Adventures this summer.  And of course its good to be back to my normal life again!